The Maple Leafs are trading Mitch Marner to the Golden Knights, according to multiple media reports.
The talented winger reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $96-million US contract with Toronto ahead of the deal with Vegas on Monday. Marner would have only been able to sign a seven-year contract on the open market had he hit unrestricted free agency Tuesday.
His long-anticipated Leafs departure ties a bow on nine roller-coaster campaigns with the team he cheered for as a kid.
The product of nearby Thornhill, Ont. — arguably the most talented local player to ever don a Toronto jersey — had exceptional regular-season success alongside fellow star forwards Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares.
Marner registered four 90-plus point performances, including cracking 100 for the first time in 2024-25.
The playoffs, however, were an entirely different matter.
He put up 63 points (13 goals, 50 assists) in 70 post-season contests, but the club made the second round just twice during his tenure.
The Leafs made a couple of other moves Monday, acquiring Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027 before re-signing fellow forward Steven Lorentz.
If Toronto reaches the playoffs and Maccelli registers 51 points next season, the pick becomes a second-rounder in 2029.
Maccelli had eight goals and 10 assists in 55 games for Utah last season. The 24-year-old Finn produced career highs of 17 goals and 57 points in 2023-24. Maccelli has one year remaining on his contract at a US$3.425-million salary cap hit.
Lorentz, meanwhile, has agreed to a three-year, $4.05-million extension after producing 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 80 games in 2024-25.
Toronto reportedly signed winger Matthew Knies to a six-year extension worth $46.5 million on Sunday.
Ekblad stays with Panthers on hometown discount
Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is staying with the Florida Panthers instead of becoming a free agent.
Ekblad is re-signing with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions on an eight-year contract worth $48.8 million, according to two people with knowledge of the deal.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the move had not been announced.
Ekblad re-signing on a deal that pays him an average of $6.1 million a season comes after the Panthers also brought back playoff MVP Sam Bennett. He had been making $7.5 million a year on his last deal and appeared to leave money on the table and give the only NHL organization he has ever been a part of a hometown discount.
Now 29, Ekblad has been a part of Florida’s core since he was the No. 1 pick in the draft in 2014. With Ekblad, Seth Jones and Gustav Forsling all signed long term, the top four on defence will be set for the better part of the next decade once Niko Mikkola, who has a year left on his current contract, is extended.
Wild acquire Tarasenko
The Minnesota Wild got a two-time Stanley Cup champion for nothing on the eve of NHL free agency, and the New York Islanders locked up one of their top young players to a long-term contract.
The Wild acquired winger Vladimir Tarasenko from the Detroit Red Wings on Monday for future considerations.
The Islanders re-signed defenceman Alexander Romanov to an eight-year contract that a person with knowledge of the extension said is worth $50 million US.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were not disclosed. Romanov will count $6.25 million against the salary cap through the 2032-33 season.
Tarasenko, 33, has one year left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $4.75 million.
He helped Florida win the Cup last year after being a key part of St. Louis’ championship run in 2019.
Oilers extend Bouchard, Kapanen
The Edmonton Oilers re-signed star defenceman Evan Bouchard to a four-year, $42-million contract Monday, according to multiple media reports.
The hard-shooting Bouchard, known for his “Bouch Bomb” from the point, was set to become a restricted free agent.
The 25-year-old from Oakville, Ont., earns a massive raise on his previous $3.9-million salary cap hit after back-to-back high-production seasons to help Edmonton into the Stanley Cup final twice.
Kapanen, 28, had 13 points in 57 regular-season games and added six more in 12 playoff appearances after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.
The Oilers also signed centre Noah Philp on Monday to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.
Philp, 26, appeared in 15 games for Edmonton last season and recorded two assists.
The Canmore, Alta., native had 35 points, including 19 goals, in 55 games with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
Edmonton forwards Corey Perry, Connor Brown and Jeff Skinner, along with defenceman John Klingberg, remain unsigned and are set to become unrestricted free agents.
Oilers superstar centre Connor McDavid has a year left on his current deal, but will be eligible to sign a new contract for the 2026-27 season and beyond.
Free agency kicks off Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET.
